Defense and not the high-powered Mission Hills offense saved the day, holding Keppel (26-4) scoreless for the final 5:15 until Emily Chen’s 3-point shot at the buzzer.

The 9-0 run during the Aztecs’ dry spell — capped by two Hecker free throws for a team high 13 points — was helped along by two missed free throws by Sophia Song with 35.5 seconds to play.

Sophomore Madison Adams scored nine of her 11 points in the second half for Mission Hills. Roshell Lamug, who had 11 points at halftime for the Grizzlies, finished with 12. Freshman Khayla Rooks had 10.

“We got punched in the mouth in the first quarter and we had to respond,” Mission Hills coach Chris Kroesch said. “In the fourth quarter, our veterans took over. We got the job done defensively after they took us out of our game all night.”